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Passport 9500ci Installation Video

Click for a visual guide to installation of the Passport 9500ci Radar and Laser Detector. (Note: This video does not replace or change the installation information in the Owner's Installation Manual. If you have any questions or do not understand any of the steps shown in this video, please consult the Owner's Manual or call us at Escort before proceeding with the installation.)

Passport 9500ci Installation Tips

Overview - Before You Begin
Installation will be much easier if you are familiar with DC electrical circuits, automotive systems, trim pieces and the use of certain tools including: volt-ohm meters, drills & metal penetrating bits, and if you are familiar with following standard machine shop procedures.

Warning: If your vehicle is damaged during installation its safety systems may be compromised which could cause personal injury or property damage. Further, improper installation may void Passport 9500ci's warranty.

Upon review, you may find that it makes sense to seek professional installation assistance - click here to locate an authorized installation dealer near you, or contact Escort at 800-543-1608.

Before you begin, please be certain that you have completely read and fully understand all of the steps in the installation manual. If you have any questions, please call Escort directly at 800-543-1608.

Installing the Passport 9500ci Radar and Laser Detector can be made easier if two people work together - this can dramatically reduce the installation time by running wires together, installing separate items simultaneously and other advantages.

Install times may vary depending on the vehicle make, model or customer options.

Parts Inventory
The first step after completely reading the installation manual is to inventory all of the Passport 9500ci product carton contents. You should match up each item listed here with the actual item enclosed. Passport 9500ci comes with the following items:
• Miniature weatherproof Front Radar Receiver
• Two universal mounting brackets with stainless steel hardware
• 13-foot cable with waterproof connector and inline grommet
• 12 nylon wire ties to secure cable
• 2 Twin weatherproof Front Laser Shifters / sensors including 16-foot cables
• Adjustable mounting clamps preinstalled
• Optional universal mounting brackets with stainless steel hardware
• Weatherproof Rear Laser Shifter sensor including 30-foot cable
• Weatherproof magnetically mounted GPS Antenna including 30-foot cable
• Interior windshield mounting bracket
• Display Module
• Bezel for optional in-dash mounting
• Adhesive pads for secure mounting In-dash Display Bezel
• In-dash bezel for factory-installed look
• Control Module
• Adhesive pads provided for secure mounting
• 6-foot Radio Mute Cable cable
• Comprehensive Owner's Manual
• Installation Manual
• Interface module
• Powerful Amplified speaker
• Speaker mounting brackets and hardware
• Bi-color Concealed Alert Indicator including 6-foot cable with modular connector
• Bezel provided
If any of the components are missing, please call us immediately and we'll help you.

Scoping Your Vehicle
After you have completed the inventory, you should scope out your vehicle and visibly confirm the placement location for each of the Passport 9500ci components.

Scoping - Front Laser Shifters
For maximum performance mount each shifter on either side of the front license plate, one on each side, half way between the headlights and the midpoint, or license plate.

Important: the shifters must be mounted with a clear view of the road and they must be mounted horizontally with the road surface and face straight ahead. Make certain that you mount them with the surface marked 'this side up', facing up!

In general, it is not recommended that any Passport 9500ci wires be spliced except for the power and ground wires and possibly the radio mute wire.

Scoping - Receiver
For the best performance the receiver must be near the grill and should have a clear view of the road.

The mounting location can be behind plastic but make certain that it is not obstructed by metal or composites that contain metal.

Mount the with the label facing up and the arrow facing forward.

Scoping - Front Wire Routing
An entry point from the engine compartment into the cockpit can frequently be found behind the plastic liner in the wheel well, or behind the fuse box, or through unused grommets.

If your vehicle is an automatic but is offered in a manual transmission model, you may have an unused clutch pedal linkage punch-out or grommet - this makes an excellent entry point for your wiring.

Planning tip: if you don't locate an entry point, you will have to drill a hole through the firewall. Again, you may want to consider the help of a professional installer.

Scoping - Rear Laser Shifter
For optimum performance, and ease of installation, the bottom screws are preferred. The tabs are spaced exactly for U.S standard plate sizes.

The mounting tabs may be bent to aim the transceiver horizontally but they should be unscrewed from the plastic for bending to avoid cracking the case and causing water leaks.

When mounting, similar to the front laser shifters, the rear laser shifter must be horizontal with the road surface.

Scoping - GPS Antenna
Passport 9500ci's GPS antenna is magnetic and can be either roof or trunk mounted, or, for vehicles with non-metalized windshields, the antenna can be mounted forward on the rear deck dash.

The GPS antenna must be able to see the GPS satellites the same way a portable navigation device does and with no metal obstructions.

For vehicles with metalized windshields, often there is a small nonmetalized window area for mounting of GPS/Nav equipment and garage door openers - we have included a special mounting bracket for using this window.

Scoping - Switched +12V Power
Here 'switched +12V power' means that you need to find a power point that is active only when the ignition is switched on.

Often the fuse box is the best spot for locating Switched +12V power. Inside your vehicle look for other fuse panels or radio and nav system wires under the dash - a test light or Ohm meter will be more accurate.

If you cannot find or confirm that you have located the Switched +12V line, please contact your vehicle dealer or contact a professional installer.

Scoping - Display Module
When selecting a spot for the Display, you should locate the display where it will be easy to see during all driving situations. The Display will be providing you with numerous status messages throughout the life of your vehicle - make sure that you can read all of this valuable information.

The display can be flush mounted in a dash panel by cutting out an opening and using the included mounting bezel.

Scoping - Bi-color LED
The Passport 9500ci includes an audible voice confirmation - experienced radar users have been known to mount this display discreetly inside an ash tray or center console. If you plan to hide the display module but you still want a visual "it's turned on" and attack alert confirmation (or you just want a second visual alert source that compliments the Display) a bi-color light emitting diode (LED) and bezel are included. The LED lights green for power-on confirmation and flashes red under an alert.

Scoping - Control Module
When deciding on a location, convenience and ease of reach are your primary concern as this is the spot where you'll be pressing the Mute button, confirming GPS TrueLock and setting up user preferences.

If you are right handed, mounting to the right of the center column is convenient. For left handed drivers, mounting on the left side will be equally convenient.

Scoping - Interface Module
The Interface Module is the only connection to both the Switched +12V power and vehicle ground via a secure ground lug. All other Passport 9500ci components plug into the Interface Module.

The interface is not designed to be waterproof so it must be installed inside the vehicle or a weatherproof fuse box enclosure. We recommend that you locate a spot under the dash, near where you located Switched +12V power.

Scoping - Amplified Speaker
The amplified powered speaker is the only source of alert audio tones, voice alerts, and audible programming confirmations so its use is important. The most common location for the amplified speaker is under the dash above the driver's knees.

Locating Switched +12V power
For the easiest, trouble-free installation, we will install the interface first and wire it to a +12V switched circuit. Then after we have installed the Interface, we'll use the Interface to 'hot test' all of the components and confirm that they are operating properly before continuing.

Tip: make sure that the +12V power you connect to the Interface is off while the ignition is off and that power is off at all times while you work.

The fuse box is an ideal location for locating +12V power that is switched on with the ignition key.

Using a test light or a Volt-Ohm meter, make sure the +12V line goes off when the key is turned off. Some systems sense load - like a cell phone charger plugged in - and leave the power on when the ignition switch is off.

Tip: Always leave the in-line 2-amp fuse on the interface power supply. Do not shorten this wire beyond the fuse.

Negative ground is normally a matter of finding a metal part and an available screw or enough out-of-the-way access to drill a small hole and use a pop rivet to secure the ground connection. Make certain that this spot is connected to vehicle ground.

Installation - Interface Module
Do not mount the Interface Module in engine compartment.

The interface module should be located in a remote hidden location with enough room to accommodate at least a 10 wire bundle and be able to plug 8 wires into the face and two plugs into the top. This is often near the spot where you located +12V Switched power on the side dash panel, under the dash, behind the console, or in or behind the glove box.

The ears on the sides are for looping zip ties through to attach the interface to large wire bundles or structural pieces. Avoid the brake pedal, emergency brake, clutch or steering hardware for mounting.

Installation - Component Testing
Do not turn on power to the Interface until AFTER you have plugged in all of the system components. Plug each system component into its matching color-coded plug. Tip: it is easier to work top to bottom left to right;
- plug in the Display Module (Orange Shrink) in the top left with matching color code
- plug in the Control Module (Blue Shrink)
- plug in the Bi-color Concealed Alert Indicator (Gray Shrink) LED
- skip the radio mute and test plugs
- plug in the Front Radar Receiver (White Stripe) into the front receiver slot
- plug in the Front Laser Shifters (Purple Stripe)
- plug in the Rear Laser Shifter (Green Stripe)
- and last the GPS Antenna (Yellow Shrink); set the GPS receiver outside if possible.

Be sure that all components are plugged into the correct connector before applying power to unit.

After all components are properly plugged in, apply power. If everything is working, you will get "Passport 9500ci" on the display. If you receive any other message, turn off power and call us immediately.

Tip: while the system is powered up, consider that the Passport 9500ci comes pre-set with factory recommended settings. However, if you wish to activate laser shifting countermeasures this function must be turned on in the user preferences. Now is a good time to do this by holding down the VOL and BRT buttons together to go in to the preferences programming mode. Once in programming mode step through the options by repeatedly pressing the VOL button to get to BANDS and step down the options in BANDS by pressing the BRT button until LSR is displayed, then press the mute button to step through to SHFT. Wait 8 seconds and the new settings will be stored in memory as the Passport 9500ci leaves programming mode by indicating with an alert double quick beep. If you pause for more than 8 seconds at any time during the programming mode, the Passport 9500ci automatically leaves programming mode and stores any changes made. If you want to return to all factory preset modes simply press and hold Sensitivity and Volume while powering the unit up, until the display reads "reset" - then you can release the button.

Tip: remember that a factory reset turns laser countermeasures off.

Installation - Radar Receiver
To get the best performance possible, the mounting location of the radar receiver is critical. Although radar signals will pass through some types of plastic, mounting the radar receiver so that it has a clear "view" of the road will ensure maximum warning.

The radar receiver must be mounted horizontally and the arrow must face forward as this forward surface is critical to proper Radar Receiving operation. The receiver can be turned upside down if this facilitates easier installation.

The receiver can be hidden behind non-metallic plastic body panels but not behind any surface that has a chrome or gold plated appearance.

In many vehicles you can remove the radiator / condenser shroud and mount the receiver behind the grille.

It is recommended that the Radar Receiver be secured to the brackets first, and then the brackets and Receiver mounted to the vehicle.

Although waterproof, it is best to locate the inline connector in a dry area protected from moving parts, road debris, and hot surfaces such as the radiator and radiator hoses.

Installation - Front Laser shifters
For optimum performance, install each Laser Shifter on either side of the license plate, with an unobstructed "view" of the road. The Laser Shifters must be mounted horizontally.

For best performance, ensure that the surface marked "This Side Up" faces upward and is perfectly level with the surface of the road.

Tip: since Laser signals will not pass through objects, including most plastics, it is critical that the Laser Shifters are mounted perfectly level and have an unobstructed "view" looking straight ahead, up the road.

The shifter brackets can be attached with self tapping screws (included), VHB tape (optional) or pop rivets from the installers parts bin. The supplied mounting brackets can be easily customized by removing any tabs that will not be used. Simply bend the tab along the scored line and snap off. If using the supplied brackets, mark their location and drill pilot holes in the vehicle if necessary. Then mount the units with the supplied hardware.

Each shifter contains a laser detection section and a shifting response section. The receiving detection section is in the metal shielded section and this array of diodes is the response shifting section. If you decide to mount a shifter behind an egg crate or mesh grill, make sure to position the shifter such that each section has a view of the road ahead with higher priority given to receiving the signal.

Installation - Routing Wires from Front to the Vehicle Interior
Tip: for all wire routing, be sure to secure cables away from moving parts and hot surfaces.

Look for a soft unused grommet. Cut a slit in an unused grommet and feed the wires inside.

Seal any openings with black silicone automotive sealant available at auto parts stores and also WalMart in the automotive section.

Another option to route the wires from outside to inside is to look for a large grommet around a wire bundle that can be pulled aside to allow the wires to be tucked into the grommet hole. Wrap 2-3 rounds of electrical tape around the 3-wire bundle in the section exactly at the grommet edge to help keep the firewall edge from cutting the wires.

Use black silicone rubber sealant to seal around the enlarged hole and new wires.

Thoroughly investigate all locations before drilling any holes! Ensure no wires, hoses, or other vehicle components will be damaged. Before drilling, cover the surface being drilled with masking tape to prevent damage to the anticorrosion coating in the event the drill bit slips. Drill a 13/32" or 7/16" hole.

Another option is to drill holes in plastic fuse box sides where there is room inside for the protruding grommets and an opening is clear to feed the wires under the dash inside.

Another option is to use fresh air inlets under cowl covers to provide a path inside the driver's compartment. Look for other openings under cowl covers and filter housings like compartments with brake fluid reservoirs.

Another alternative is to drill holes in the firewall under the dash or floorpan under the front seat after removing the seat.

A quality crimper for modular connectors can be used to cut cables to length and replace the connector. Removing the connectors may also make it easier to enter the vehicle's interior through existing openings. Note: Only an exact replacement for the standard connector can be used. Do not attempt to cut the wires unless the proper connector and crimping tools are available.

Tip: once connectors are cut from the wire, the connectors cannot be reused. Do not cut the cable too short!

Installation - Rear Shifter
Mounting the rear shifter is made easy as it is designed specifically to mount directly on the license plate. Most installers mount the shifter on the bottom set of plate holes.

Tip: on some vehicles an ideal mounting spot for the shifter is under the bottom edge of the bumper valance using VHB tape.

If you need to bend the mounting tabs more than 1-2 degrees to make the shifter horizontal you should remove the tabs and bend the angles in a vice to prevent cracking the shifter case and re-install the tabs.

Installation - Routing Wires from Rear to the Vehicle Interior
You may decide to drill a hole behind the license plate for a clean entry inside the trunk or inside a lift gate. Be careful not to damage lock mechanisms, lock release mechanisms, or any wiring inside.

A piece of soft aluminum wire makes a nice snake for running wires through flexible rubber conduits to the inside of the trunk.

A fast way to route the wire from the trunk to the area under the dash is to tuck the wire under the carpet edge and under sill plates and kick plates.

There are often many existing entry points at the rear of the vehicle as well: gaskets behind license plates, around illumination; lamps, and near trunk lid hinges; tail light wiring gaskets are often easily accessible and large enough to add cables.

Installation - Display Module
Thoroughly clean the surface where you wish to mount the display with alcohol to remove any grease or wax.

Mount the Display using the pre-applied adhesive.

When drilling or cutting interior trim panels, first cover the surface of the panel with masking tape to prevent accidental scratches.

For Display Bezel Mounting:
The supplied display bezel can be used to mount the Display permanently in the dash or console. A flat, plastic surface with no obstructions behind it is best for this type of mounting. Remove the Display Module's lens by inserting a fingernail at one end to unsnap the lens. Replace the front lens with the display bezel by snapping it in place. Ensure that the cable protrudes from the left end when looking at the display bezel with the text oriented properly. A small key in the plastic helps ensure proper assembly. Cover the mounting surface with masking tape to prevent accidental scratches. Using the supplied hole template, mark the location. Ensure there are no hidden cables, brackets, or other components behind the location, and that there is adequate clearance behind the panel. The Display will protrude into the dash or console up to 3/4". Very carefully cut the hole in the mounting surface. Feed the connector end of the cable through the opening and route to the Interface. Remove the masking tape protecting the trim panel. Clean the mounting surface thoroughly. Apply the double-sided adhesive tape to the display bezel. Mount the Display Module using the bezel adhesive. Plug the connector into the Interface connector labeled "Display Module." Secure and conceal the cable under trim panels.

Installation - Control Module
You should mount the control module in a location that is easy to reach and can be located without having to visually locate the button.

The button used most often is the mute button which is why it's centrally positioned and the largest. You should be able to easily locate this button.
Clean the mounting surface thoroughly. Mount the Control Module using the pre-applied adhesive.

Installation - Bi-Color LED
The LED can be nestled in a trim mating joint without the small round trim bezel, or you can drill a 1/4" hole and feed the LED through the back of the hole snap on the round trim bezel and pop the assembly into the hole from the front.

Again, when drilling holes in any part of the automobile you should know what is behind the surface you are drilling. And you should cover the mounting surface with masking tape to prevent accidental scratches.

Installation - Amplified Speaker
The most common location for the amplified speaker is under the dash above the driver's knees. Attach the mounting hardware and use zip ties to secure the speaker.

Installation - GPS Antenna
The GPS Antenna requires a clear view of the sky. The magnetic base can be used on most vehicles to mount to the roof of the car or the trunk lid. For vehicles with non-magnetic surfaces such as aluminum or plastic, a window-mounted bracket is included for interior mounting. It can also be mounted to the dashboard or rear deck using double-sided tape.

Mount the GPS Antenna, being sure that roof racks or other obstructions do not block its view of the GPS satellites.

You may choose to use the Interior Mounting Bracket. Choose a location on the inside of the windshield or rear window that will provide a wide, clear view of the sky. This is usually near the base of the window or just left of the rearview mirror for metalized windshields.

Tip: To increase the adhesion of the each cup to the window, squirt a small amount of hairspray or other light adhesive onto the surface of the suction cup that mates with the window and then apply firmly. Place the GPS Antenna on the mount using the magnetic base and align the edges.

Installation - Making Final Connections
Remove the fuse from the Interface power feed. Plug everything into the correct location on the box. Insert the fuse. Start the vehicle. Passport 9500ci will cycle through a startup sequence. If the Passport 9500ci powers up and begins looking for a satellite signal, this is a good sign. If the vehicle is indoors it is unlikely that a GPS signal will be acquired. If any error messages appear, see the Owner's Manual troubleshooting section for suggested solutions.

Recall that all Laser Shifters are shipped in the "receive only mode". If you haven't done so already, this would be a good time to enter the "Preferences" mode and turn the Laser Countermeasures on.

If no error messages are displayed, you are free to finish tying loose wires, securing the interface block and re-installing all body and dash pieces.